For the first time this season, Thomson was able to play a football game with some breathing room and enjoy a convincing win as the Bulldogs dominated Swainsboro inside of The Brickyard, 56-7 Thursday night.
The Bulldogs came into the game with a 2-2 record and all four of those games being decided by a touchdown.
This was an interesting matchup because, if it were played one of the last two seasons, the eyes of the entire state would’ve been on it. But both teams have taken a step back, at least, at the start of the 2024 season with Thomson being now 3-2 and Swainsboro falling to 1-4.
Thomson is coming off of four consecutive double-digit-win seasons, including the 2022 campaign that included a GHSA Class AA state championship win over Fitzgerald, and Swainsboro is coming off of back-back DI-A state championship appearances, falling to Prince Avenue Christian in both.
This marks the first season since 2013 that the two teams have faced off, when both competed in Region 3-AAA. Swainsboro owns the series record 17-15, but Thursday night, it was all Thomson.
No nail-biters
The Bulldogs handed Swainsboro its worst loss since the 2013 season and the worst loss in the series history, and the 49-point margin of victory was the most convincing win Thomson’s had since October of last year — which felt good to coach Michael Youngblood.
“That’s the first time that’s happened this year,” Youngblood said with a smile on his face regarding the dominant victory. “I challenged them at halftime to finish this football game and to do everything they are supposed to do. We finally did it our [coaches] way instead of their [players] way.”
Things got started early for the Bulldogs’ offense after a quick 3-and-out forced by the defense, as 3-star running back prospect and Kent State commit Anthony Jeffery scored from 20 yards out early in the first quarter, and you could feel Thursday night was going to be Thomson’s night to get everything rolling.
The following three scores would come from junior Jaris Sinkfield, all in three different ways as well — a rushing, receiving and punt return for touchdown, and he wasn’t done yet.
Jeffery found the endzone on a 7-yard run for his second score of the night which stretched Thomson’s lead to 35-0, a score no one saw coming before the half.
The Bulldogs finally surrendered a score and then were stopped on offense on their next drive, as Swainsboro got the momentum and could make a game out of it.
The Sinkfield effect
That was until Jaris Sinkfield happened, again.
The versatile stud found a fourth way to get into the endzone by jumping the Swainsboro receiver’s slant route and took it to the house for a pick-six. This ensured the Bulldogs’ dominance for the night.
“Hard work, dedication, film time, studying, being coachable, it’s the small things that add up,” Sinkfield said. “I give all glory to God.”
The offense had a great night as mentioned, but the defense was the underrated part of the equation as it proved from the first snap that it was the more physical unit.
Swainsboro was never able to get things moving and every time it did, the Bulldogs forced a turnover. In fact, they came away with three turnovers in the game, two of them going for touchdowns — the aforementioned interception return and they had another in the fourth by Sophomore cornerback Aiden Robertson.
Peaking at the right time?
This is exactly what Thomson was looking for as it played its final tune-up before Region 4-AA play begins.
The Bulldogs’ coach was glad to see his team play a complete game Thursday night, but one fact about this squad encourages him even more.
“The crazy thing is we still don’t have our full team, because we have three starters on the sideline that are out with injuries,” Youngblood said. “So, hopefully we can heal up over the open week.”
So, aside for a little rest and regroup time, what’s next for Thomson?
The Bulldogs will play host to the Laney (3-2) which lost 14-8 to Greene County Friday night in its last non-region matchup. Though Thomson has owned this rivalry with a record of 19-1, the only loss coming in 1987 by one point, 27-26, the Wildcats have played the Bulldogs within two touchdowns each of the last two seasons.
For that reason, Youngblood knows the challenge they present as he mistakenly said “Laney” instead of “Swainsboro” in Thursday night’spostgame interview.
“They are already on my mind,” he said. “I can’t even enjoy the win.”
